Cops, victim chase suspects

Beaumont police have arrested Keith Allen Fowler in connection with a burglary that took place Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the 2800 block of South Sixth Street.

According to police, Fowler and another individual allegedly burglarized a residence and later tried to sell the stolen property back to the owner. The owner set up a meeting with the two alleged thieves at the car wash on Sixth Street, but the pair got spooked and fled in a silver Cadillac.

The property owner chased the suspects and kept responding officers aware of his whereabouts via cell phone. As the chase neared Lamar University, the silver Cadillac pulled over and the suspects began dumping the stolen goods on the ground near the Subway restaurant. That’s when the victim and a couple of friends in a red Pontiac Grand Am tried to gather the items, but police arrived and detained them. Not knowing their role in the matter, the men were briefly questioned while other officers continued chasing the Cadillac, which was abandoned near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Georgia Street.

After ditching the Cadillac, which later turned out to be stolen, the suspects fled on foot. One of those suspects is believed to have hidden under a house, according to witnesses, but he escaped before police could arrive on the scene.

Police also had to endure the suspect’s mother, who was driving around the crime scene watching the officers as they were searching for her son. According to several witnesses near where the car was abandoned, the suspect had been on the phone with his mother because he was afraid of the police.

A short time later, police arrested Fowler after speaking with numerous witnesses. Police confirmed they know the identity of the other suspect and believe they will have him in custody soon.

Fowler was booked into the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on a $15,000 bond for burglary of a habitation.